Modern Christianity

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” — Revelation 7:9–10

The modern period of Christianity — from the eighteenth century to the present — has witnessed explosive global growth, powerful revival movements, painful divisions, and an unprecedented diversity of Christian expression. The faith that began in Palestine and shaped European civilization is now a truly global religion, with its most vibrant growth occurring in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The Great Awakenings

Periods of intense spiritual revival reshaped Christianity in the English-speaking world:

The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s)

• Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) — the great American theologian-pastor whose sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” exemplified the awakening’s urgency, though his broader work emphasized God’s beauty and sovereign grace
• George Whitefield (1714–1770) — the most famous preacher of the eighteenth century, whose open-air preaching drew enormous crowds in Britain and the American colonies
• John and Charles Wesley — founders of Methodism, emphasizing personal holiness, assurance of salvation, and social concern. Their movement revitalized faith among the working classes of England.

The Second Great Awakening (1790s–1840s)

• Camp meetings and revival services swept across the American frontier
• Produced lasting fruit in social reform: the abolitionist movement, temperance, women’s education, and care for the poor
• Gave rise to new denominations and movements, including the Restoration Movement (Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ) and the Holiness Movement

Later Revivals

• The Prayer Revival of 1857–1858 — began with businessmen’s prayer meetings in New York and spread across America and the United Kingdom
• The Welsh Revival of 1904–1905 — a powerful movement of prayer and repentance that influenced global Christianity
• These awakenings demonstrated the pattern of Scripture: God revives His people when they humble themselves, pray, and seek His face (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The Global Missions Movement (18th–20th Century)

The modern missionary movement carried the gospel to every continent:

• William Carey (1761–1834) — the “father of modern missions,” a Baptist cobbler who went to India and pioneered Bible translation, education, and social reform
• Hudson Taylor (1832–1905) — founded the China Inland Mission, adopting Chinese dress and culture, and modeled faith-based mission work that trusted God for provision
• David Livingstone (1813–1873) — explored Africa while combating the slave trade and opening the continent to both the gospel and Western awareness
• Lottie Moon (1840–1912) — a Southern Baptist missionary to China whose sacrificial service inspired generations of missionary giving
• The Edinburgh Missionary Conference (1910) — a landmark gathering that launched the modern ecumenical and missions movements

The missionary movement, while bringing genuine spiritual transformation, also became entangled with colonialism. Christians today rightly celebrate the faith of the missionaries while honestly reckoning with the ways Western cultural imperialism sometimes distorted the gospel message.

The Pentecostal and Charismatic Movement

The twentieth century witnessed the dramatic rise of Spirit-centered Christianity:

• The Azusa Street Revival (1906) — led by William J. Seymour in Los Angeles, this interracial revival is considered the birthplace of modern Pentecostalism. Participants reported speaking in tongues (glossolalia, from Greek γλῶσσα glōssa, “tongue/language” + λαλέω laleō, “to speak”), healings, and other spiritual gifts.
• Classical Pentecostalism — denominations such as the Assemblies of God, Church of God in Christ, and the Foursquare Church emphasize the baptism of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues, and the continuation of all the spiritual gifts
• The Charismatic Renewal (1960s–1970s) — the experience of the Spirit’s gifts spread into mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic congregations, often without participants leaving their existing denominations
• The global impact — Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity is the fastest-growing segment of global Christianity, with an estimated 600 million adherents worldwide. Its growth has been especially dramatic in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Christians hold diverse views on the continuation of miraculous gifts. Cessationists argue that certain gifts ceased with the apostolic age, while continuationists affirm their ongoing operation (cf. baptism of the Spirit). Both perspectives are held by faithful, orthodox believers.

The Ecumenical Movement

The twentieth century also saw significant efforts toward Christian unity:

• The World Council of Churches (founded 1948) — brought together mainline Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches for dialogue and cooperation
• The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) — Pope John XXIII convened a council that opened the Roman Catholic Church to ecumenical engagement, liturgical reform, and dialogue with the modern world
• Bilateral dialogues — Lutherans and Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox, and many other traditions have engaged in formal theological conversations, finding common ground on issues such as justification, baptism, and the Eucharist
• Evangelical cooperation — organizations such as the Lausanne Movement (founded 1974 through Billy Graham’s initiative) have united evangelicals across denominational lines for world evangelization

Ecumenism at its best seeks visible unity in truth, not uniformity at the expense of conviction. The prayer of Jesus remains the aspiration: “that they may all be one” — Greek hen (ἕν), expressing a unity of purpose and being — “so that the world may believe” (John 17:21).

Christianity in the Global South

The most significant development in modern Christianity is the shift of its center of gravity from the West to the Global South:

• In 1900, approximately 80% of Christians lived in Europe and North America. Today, the majority live in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• Africa — has grown from roughly 10 million Christians in 1900 to over 700 million today, making it the continent with the most Christians
• China — despite decades of Communist persecution, the Chinese church has grown to an estimated 60–100 million believers
• Latin America — while historically Catholic, the region has experienced dramatic Pentecostal and evangelical growth
• South Korea — one of the great mission-sending nations, with vibrant churches and a strong tradition of prayer

Global South Christianity often displays a supernaturalist worldview, communal worship, and passionate evangelism that challenges the individualism and secularism of Western Christianity.

Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities

The church in the twenty-first century faces a complex landscape:

• Secularization in the West — declining church attendance and cultural influence in Europe and North America challenge Christians to rediscover authentic witness and community
• Persecution — more Christians face persecution today than at any other point in history, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, China, and parts of South Asia
• Technology and communication — the digital age presents both opportunities for gospel proclamation and challenges of distraction, misinformation, and shallow faith
• Theological polarization — tensions between progressive and traditional approaches to ethics, Scripture, and doctrine test the unity of many denominations
• The call to justice — Christians across the spectrum are rediscovering the biblical mandate to care for the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, reflecting the heart of the prophets and the ministry of Jesus
• Interfaith engagement — in an increasingly pluralistic world, Christians must hold firmly to the uniqueness of Christ while engaging with people of other faiths with grace and respect

Despite these challenges, the promise of Christ stands firm. The church is not a human institution dependent on human strength. It is the body of Christ, animated by the Holy Spirit, and destined to endure until He returns.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. — Philippians 1:6